Improvement in platforms of weighing-frames



C. DOWNE'B.

Platform of Weighing Frames.

No. 38,221. Patented -A rn'21. 1863.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES DO'WNER, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

IMPROVEMENT IN PLATFORMS OF WEIGHING-FRAMES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES DOWNER, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Suspended Platform for W'eighing- Frames; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

My invention consists of a tilting platform arranged for suspension to the graduated beam ofa weighing-frame, and operating, substantially as described hereinafter, so as to facilitate the operation of weighing pig-iron, iron bars, and other heavy objects.

In order to enable others to make and use my invention, 1 will now proceed to describe its construction and operation.

On reference to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, Figure 1 is a side view of a weighing-frame with my improved suspended platform; Fig.2, a side view of the platform, and Fig. 3 a rear view of the same.

Similar letters refer to similar parts throu ghout the several views.

For the purpose of illustrating myim proved suspended platform, I have introduced into the drawings a weighing-frame for which Letters Patent were granted me on the 19th day of March, 1850.

It should be understood, however, that the weighing-frame forms no part of my present invention, as the latter can be used in connection with any of the weighing-frames in common use. It will be unnecessary, therefore, to give more than a very brief description of the frame illustrated in the drawings.

A is the base of the frame, which may be furnished with rollers or wheels a near the front, and legs 1) near the rear.

To the base A are hinged two inclined posts, forming a frame, B, on the top of which rests the beam D, the lower end of the latter being connected to the rear of the base A by the rods or bars E and F, which can be readily disconnected from each other.

To the upper or outer end of the beam D is secured a plate, (I, to which the graduated beam G is suspended by means of a clevis, e. A similar clevis, f, is suspended to the graduated beam, and to the latter clevis is suspended my im proved platform, before describing which it may be well to remark that the frame is constructed with a view of being contained in a small compass when not in use, the beam D being detachable from the frame B after disconnecting the rods E F, when the said frame B can be turned down onto the base A.

H is a malleable-iron frame composed of two bars, i and i, which are welded together from the top where the hook it is formed to the point 00, from which point to the point 3 the bars are carried forward in a horizontal or nearly horizontal direction and form the two arms at m, which serve to support the platform. The latter consists of a plate or table, I, on the under side of which are two projections, a n, a spindle, q, passing through the latter, and this spindle resting in recesses formed in the upper edge and near the ends of the arms m m of the frame H, so that the platform can be tilted, as seen in Fig. 2.

At the rear of the table is secured a guard, t, of plate-iron, or malleable-iron bars, and a hook, to, is hung to the rear of the table, this hook being adapted to a pin, 1;, which projects from a bar, it, the latter serving to connect the two bars 1' and i of the frame H together.

As the rear of the table or platform I with its frame or guard t preponderates the tendency of the platform is to occupy the position seen in Fig. 1 in respect to the frame H. The platform is especially adapted for facilitatin g the weighing of masses of pig-iron, iron bars, plates, 850., which are placed crosswise on the platform, as seen in Fig. 1, care having been taken to lock the said platform to the frame H by the hook w.

After the bars or other articles have been weighed the hook w is detached from the pin a, the platform is tilted, and the bars are at once deposited on the ground.

In ordinary apparatus for weighing pig-iron, iron bars, &c., the platform is permanent, so that the removal of the bars by hand after they have been weighed is rendered a matter of necessity. It will be readily seen that this laborious manual labor is obviated by the use of my improved tilting platform.

If it is desirable to deposit the articles at a distance from the point where they are weighed, the entire frame with the loaded platform can be readily moved to the desired point, and ing-frarne, and operating substantially as and can be as readily returned to its prior position for the purpose herein set forth. after the load has been discharged. In testimony whereof I have signed my name I claim as my invention and desire to seto this specification in the presence of two cure by Letters Patent subscribing Witnesses.

The platform composed of the frame H and Witnesses: CHARLES DOWNER. tilting table I, when constructed, arranged for CHARLES E. FOSTER, suspension to the graduated beam of a Weigh- JOHN \VHITE. 

